Bangkok burns after Thai protest leaders arrested

BANGKOK – Downtown Bangkok became a flaming battleground Wednesday as an army assault forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke.

Smoke rises from burning fires in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, following the surrender of anti-government leaders, Wednesday May 19, 2010. Downtown Bangkok turned into a flaming battleground Wednesday as an army assault toppled the anti-government group’s leadership, enraging followers who fired grenades and set numerous fires that cloaked the skyline in black smoke.

Using live ammunition, troops dispersed thousands of Red Shirt protesters who had been camped in the capital’s premier shopping and residential district for weeks. Five protesters and an Italian news photographer were killed in the ensuing gunbattles and about 60 wounded.

After Red Shirt leaders gave themselves up to police, rioters set fires at the Stock Exchange, several banks, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, the Central World, one of Asia’s biggest shopping malls, and cinema that burned to ground. There were reports of looting.

Thai soldiers walk through an anti-government barricade during a military crackdown Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand. Seven leaders of Thailand’s Red Shirt protesters have surrendered to authorities after a deadly army assault on their fortified encampment.

Firefighters retreated after protesters shot guns at them, and thick smoke drifted across the sky of this city of 10 million people.

Smoke rises from burning fires in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, following the surrender of anti-government leaders to the police Wednesday, May 19, 2010. The Thai government is attempting to end the two month long standoff with Red Shirt protestors with a massive military crackdown.

Sporadic clashes between troops and protesters continued in the night at the site of former protest camp.

The chaos in Bangkok in the wake of the two-month protest will deepen the severe impact dealt to the economy and tourism industry of Thailand, a key U.S. ally and long considered one of the more stable countries in Southeast Asia. The Red Shirts had demanded the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government, the dissolution of Parliament and new elections.

Thai soldiers take up positions near Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Thai troops and armored vehicles converged early Wednesday around the barricaded encampment of anti-government protesters in downtown Bangkok and opened fire in what appears to be a final crackdown to disperse them.

A 10-hour curfew came into force in Bangkok and 18 other provinces at 8 p.m., and the government said army operations would continue through the night in the Thai capital.

It is the first time that Bangkok has been put under curfew since 1992, when the army killed dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators seeking the ouster of a military-backed government.

“Tonight is going to be another worrisome night,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

The government also imposed a partial media blackout on local TV stations, saying all of them will have to air government-prepared bulletins.

A Thai looter carries his stolen items in a backpack as he walks in front of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday May 19, 2010. Downtown Bangkok turned into a flaming battleground Wednesday as an army assault toppled the Red Shirt protest leadership, enraging followers who fired grenades and set numerous fires that cloaked the skyline in a black haze.

“They might be able to show their regular news programs. But we are concerned about their live broadcasts from the scenes,” Panitan said. “There will be more (government) programs … to be shown simultaneously by all stations,” he said.

Protesters had already turned their rage on the local media, which they have accused of pro-government coverage. They attacked the offices of state-run Channel 3, setting fire to cars outside and puncturing water pipes that flooded the building.

Thai army armored vehicles break down a makeshift barricade of anti government protesters at Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Thai troops opened fire Wednesday into the fortified encampment of anti-government protesters in downtown Bangkok, ramming armored vehicles into its tire-and-bamboo barricade in what appears to be a final crackdown after a week of deadly clashes.

“At Channel 3 need urgent help from police, soldiers!!!” tweeted news anchor Patcharasri Benjamasa. “News cars were smashed and they are about to invade the building.”

Hours later its building was on fire. Its executives were evacuated by helicopter and police rescued other staff. The English-language Bangkok Post newspaper evacuated its staff after threats from the Red Shirts. A large office building down the street from the Post was set afire.

Thailand’s stock exchange would be closed for the rest of the week after rioters set the building’s ground floor on fire, its president, Patareeya Benjapolchai, told The Associated Press.

The exchange, where about $600 million of shares change hands each day, may reopen on Monday, she said. The central bank, meanwhile, said all financial institutions in Bangkok including commercial banks would be shut Thursday and Friday.

Unrest also spread to the rural northeast of the country, where Red Shirts, who claim Abhisit’s government is elitist and oblivious to their plight, retain strong support.

Local media reported protesters set fire to government offices in the city of Udon Thani and vandalized a city hall in Khon Kaen. Udon Thani’s governor asked the military to intervene. TV images also showed troops retreating after being attacked by mobs in Ubon Ratchathani.

Thai soldiers aboard armored personnel carriers take aim at anti-government protestors in Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Downtown Bangkok turned into a flaming battleground Wednesday as an army assault toppled the anti-government group’s leadership, enraging followers who fired grenades and set numerous fires that cloaked the skyline in black smoke.

Cabinet minister Satit Vongnongteay described the chaos as anticipated “aftershocks.”

At least 74 people have been killed and nearly 1,800 injured since the Red Shirts descended on Bangkok in mid-March to press their demands. Of those, at least 45 people, most of them civilians, have died in clashes that started last Thursday after the army tried to blockade the protesters who had camped in the 1-square-mile (3-square-kilometer) Rajprasong district.

The final crackdown began soon after dawn Wednesday, as hundreds of troops armed with M-16s converged on Rajprasong, where high-end malls and hotels have been shuttered for weeks.

Bullets flew overhead and several grenades exploded near the soldiers, forcing them to pull back and take cover briefly before pushing forward. A Canadian freelance reporter was injured by grenade shrapnel. Two other journalists were wounded earlier, one Dutch man and an American documentary filmmaker. An Italian photographer was killed.

With no hope of resisting the military’s advance, seven top Red Shirt leaders turned themselves in on Wednesday afternoon, saying they cannot see their supporters – women and children among them – being killed anymore.

“Brothers and sisters, I’m sorry I cannot see you off the way I welcomed you all when you arrived here. But please be assured that our hearts will always be with you,” Nattawut Saikua, a key leader, said as he was being arrested.

“Please return home,” he said.

By mid-afternoon, the army announced it had gained control of the protest zone and the operations had ended – nine hours after troops launched the pre-dawn assault – although sporadic clashes with rioters continued into the night.

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